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Former North player Justus earns Emmy nomination

The 2005 North graduate is a meteorologist for FOX News in Nashville

Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 7:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 7:59 p.m.

Growing up on an apple farm, former North Henderson High football and baseball player Chris Justus was fully aware of the weather at an early age.

“I kept a watch on it all the time. Since my dad was an apple farmer in Henderson County, I saw how weather affected his livelihood. So pretty much from the third grade, I knew I wanted to be a weatherman,” Justus said.

The 2005 North graduate is a meteorologist at WZTV-FOX17 in Nashville, Tenn., and now he can add something else to his title: Emmy-nominated.

“I got nominated for the piece I did on Tennessee tornaodoes earlier this year,” Justus said. “I was showing in the piece how Tennessee tornadoes are more deadly than tornadoes in Oklahoma and other states. Although we may not get as many tornadoes as those other big tornado states, ours are stronger and kill more people.”

While he was a senior at North, Justus worked as an intern at WHKP 1450 AM. After graduation, he went to UNC Charlotte, where he earned his degree in meteorology, and from there he worked at a TV station in Savannah, Ga., gaining experience working with tropical storms.

After Savannah, Justus came back to North Carolina to work at the Charlotte station prior to landing his current job in Nashville.

Justus, who was a left tackle in football and a second baseman in baseball for North, will find out on Jan. 26 whether or not he will receive the regional Emmy award.

“The ceremony is, fittingly enough, in Nashville, so it's right here at home. If I win, it still is an Emmy award, but it qualifies me for the big national awards in Los Angeles. Those are the ones that are televised,” he said.

His parents and grandparents still own and operate Justus Orchards.

“My parents are so excited. I believe they're going to try to make the trip here to be with me and my wife at the awards ceremony,” Justus said.

<p>Growing up on an apple farm, former North Henderson High football and baseball player Chris Justus was fully aware of the weather at an early age.</p><p>“I kept a watch on it all the time. Since my dad was an apple farmer in Henderson County, I saw how weather affected his livelihood. So pretty much from the third grade, I knew I wanted to be a weatherman,” Justus said.</p><p>The 2005 North graduate is a meteorologist at WZTV-FOX17 in Nashville, Tenn., and now he can add something else to his title: Emmy-nominated.</p><p>“I got nominated for the piece I did on Tennessee tornaodoes earlier this year,” Justus said. “I was showing in the piece how Tennessee tornadoes are more deadly than tornadoes in Oklahoma and other states. Although we may not get as many tornadoes as those other big tornado states, ours are stronger and kill more people.”</p><p>While he was a senior at North, Justus worked as an intern at WHKP 1450 AM. After graduation, he went to UNC Charlotte, where he earned his degree in meteorology, and from there he worked at a TV station in Savannah, Ga., gaining experience working with tropical storms.</p><p>After Savannah, Justus came back to North Carolina to work at the Charlotte station prior to landing his current job in Nashville.</p><p>Justus, who was a left tackle in football and a second baseman in baseball for North, will find out on Jan. 26 whether or not he will receive the regional Emmy award.</p><p>“The ceremony is, fittingly enough, in Nashville, so it's right here at home. If I win, it still is an Emmy award, but it qualifies me for the big national awards in Los Angeles. Those are the ones that are televised,” he said.</p><p>His parents and grandparents still own and operate Justus Orchards.</p><p>“My parents are so excited. I believe they're going to try to make the trip here to be with me and my wife at the awards ceremony,” Justus said.</p>